HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\_is1 As add-ons they were diverting, offering an unusual and penetrating sound. They were a little like a cross between a Roto Tom and a timbale.
The Rata drums were all about piercing attack, giving a bright note that bristled with metallic overtones. It's a shame that an X Shell snare didn't come out with the kit, as it would've been interesting to see how one sat with the toms.
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The VLT plies on the snare meant that thick, woody crack was easily attainable, while cranking up the head produced an excellent sharp retort. The snare was always going to struggle to impress next to such dynamic partners and though it was a highly versatile drum, it didn't mesmerise me like the toms did. We likened the sound of the toms to those of Keith Moon's on Live At Leeds, which is a suitably apt and graphic comparison. The floor toms particularly excelled and were almost timpani-like in their enthusiasm. They weren't just deep, they were magnificently rounded and sonorous.īecause the heads didn't need slackening off to achieve the extra bottom end, they didn't sound flappy or dead - just loud, rich and addictively powerful. At average tensions each of the drums sounded a couple of inches bigger than they were. The claim about the X Shell technique producing lower sounding drums really did ring true. The five toms came next (8"x7", 10"x8", 12"x9" racks and 14"x12" and 16"x14" floor toms) and carried on where the kick left off. Without any dampening, things got understandably boomy, but a felt strip across the front head calmed down the ringing, leaving a wide open-sounding and distinctly Bonhamesque drum. The supplied pillow undoubtedly helped keep it under control, so we tried removing it. It wasn't so bassy that the note could be felt more than heard it combined the punch of a 22" kick with the stage-shaking capabilities of a larger drum. In use, the drum delivered a thunderously low note, but one with definition. The kick is fitted with a DW pillow that's narrow in the centre and T-shaped at both ends where it meets the heads. It's an unusual drum to sit behind, as it has the apparent physical presence of a 24" kick, but being an inch smaller can accommodate rack toms above it that little bit lower. All 23" bass drums are shipped with a spare batter head, as the likelihood of finding one in your local drum shop at five o'clock on a Saturday afternoon is pretty remote… Hands onįor obvious reasons the 23"x18" bass drum was the first drum out of the box. Remo has been commissioned by DW to make 23" bass drum heads and is presently the only head manufacturer supplying them. The Rata drums are another new DW product, also launched at NAMM and like Octobans they're available in one diameter (6") with eight lengths (4" to 18" in two-inch increments).Īlso making its UK debut with this kit (but by no means limited to X Shell drums) is DW's 23" diameter bass drum, which has been developed from an idea originally floated by DW endorsee Neil Peart.
"We likened the sound of the toms to those of Keith Moon's on Live At Leeds, which is a suitably apt and graphic comparison"
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The kit supplied for review consists of X Shell drums with three exceptions: the snare drum is a standard Collector's Series model with VLT plies, while a pair of Octoban-like Rata drums have also been included. The bearing edges are DW's standard 45° cut. Peering inside each drum at the main shell visible between the two sets of reinforcement rings, the diagonal pattern of grain registers immediately, as it's such an unusual sight. Interestingly, the grain on the reinforcement rings runs vertically, so DW could be looking to induce a subtle VLT effect as a bonus. These are beautifully made, with the innermost plies being fashioned from the sort of superior cut of wood that's normally reserved for a final exterior ply. In addition, toms and bass drums also feature three-ply reinforcement rings (optional on snares). X Shells are eight plies thick for all toms and bass drums, while snares come in at 10 plies.